Despite many religions, there’s a oneness of God
One of the definitions of religion according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.”
Subsequently, the religion of Islam is just that-the service and worship of One Supreme Lord. The Lord in Islam is the same as other faiths. The difference lies in the perception of God.
In Islam, God is the One who created the whole universe but has no creator; whose existence always was and always will be. The One upon whom the entire universe is dependent but is not dependent on anyone. God is everywhere yet has no physical or literal form.
God is the One who cannot be compared nor comprehended. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. A succinct description of God is mentioned in chapter 112 of the Holy Qur’an:
Say, “He is God, The One. God is the eternal, absolute. He neither begets nor was He begotten. And there is nothing comparable to him.”
Thus, to know God is to appreciate Him through His attributes and creation. The perfection of creation from the celestial to the natural wonders in the world is a testimony to His Greatness. The creation of
the human being alone is a wonder.
Imam Ali, the successor of Prophet Muhammad stated, “You think you are a small entity, but within you is enfolded the entire Universe.”
Furthermore, God can be known through
His attributes of mercy and compassion and many more attributes are
mentioned as well. Prophet Muhammad said God loves His servants 70 times more than a mother loves her child.
What is more, The Almighty can be understood through life’s experiences and fulfilled wishes and prayers, Imam Ali remarked, “I recognized the glory of God upon the failure of my own planning.”
God is the Creator that is beyond human comprehension yet closer than what one may think. The Lord states in chapter 50, verse 16: “Certainly We have created man and We know to what his soul tempts him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”
Hence, one does not have
to go far to find God. He lies in the hearts of believers.
Someone asked Imam Ali, ‘Have you seen your Lord when worshipping Him?’ ” Imam Ali answered, “Of course! I do not worship the Lord Who I have not seen.” The person then asked, “How have you seen Him?” Imam Ali replied, “Human eye cannot see God, rather hearts can see Him, that is, to perceive the Lord by real belief, faith.”
Therefore, God is far too great to be seen by the human eye. The mind cannot imagine Him and if one does it is not God. Imam Ali stated,” Imagination cannot catch any of His qualities… Eyes and hearts cannot encompass.”
Once, someone asked Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq, the sixth Imam or successor after Prophet Muhammad, to show him, God. The Imam replied, “Look at the sun.” The man said that he could not look at the sun because it was too bright. Imam as-Sadiq replied, “If you cannot see the created, how can you expect to see the Creator?”
When one understands the Lord and His Greatness, it elevates one’s level of faith which in turn allows a person to better handle life’s ordeals. A person will then realize that there is no greater Power than the Merciful Lord, so there would be no room for despair. “Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Holy Qur’an 39:53)